Here, our panel of French voters react to the first round results and look ahead to the crucial run-off on 6 May. Read their views and send us your comments using the link at the bottom of this page.

Josette Gendreau Clermont-Ferrand "I am fairly confident of a comfortable Sarkozy victory" Hazem Eseifan Paris "Bayrou proved that there is a centre in France again" Helios Chardon Saint Brieuc "Royal will need as many of Bayrou's votes as possible"

Muriel Calvez Quimper "I will vote against Sarkozy, rather than for Royal" Paul Hubball Amiens "Segolene did a little better than I'd expected" Francoise Brocco Paris "Sarkozy took Le Pen's ideas and, as a result, his votes"

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.